From hunting to the bowl: how nutritional evolution influences diabetes in cats

Main Article Content

Isabela Esteves de Campos
Archivaldo Reche Junior
Juliana Campello
Ligia Ziegler
Rodrigo Prazeres
Vinicius Perez
Pedro Villela Pedroso Horta

Abstract

Feline diabetes mellitus is a common endocrinopathy, with increasing prevalence linked to obesity. Environmental and behavioral factors such as sedentary lifestyle, indoor confinement, and energy-dense diets, combined with the species’ anatomical and physiological traits, contribute to insulin resistance and hinder remission. This review examines how feline nutritional evolution and feeding behavior affect disease management, highlighting natural habits, unique carbohydrate metabolism, neutering effects, energy density, and food acceptance. It integrates pathophysiological mechanisms and evidence on diet types and specific nutrients, proposing multimodal strategies directed at remission. Understanding species-specific characteristics and applying them to nutritional and environmental management are essential to prevent treatment from being limited to glycemic control alone.

Article Details

Section

MEDICINA VETERINÁRIA

Author Biographies

Isabela Esteves de Campos, University of São Paulo

University of São Paulo (USP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics (FMVZ), 4Cats Veterinary Hospital, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Archivaldo Reche Junior, University of São Paulo

University of São Paulo (USP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics (FMVZ), 4Cats Veterinary Hospital, Vetmasters Veterinary Clinic, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Juliana Campello, University of São Paulo

University of São Paulo (USP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics (FMVZ), 4Cats Veterinary Hospital, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Ligia Ziegler, University of São Paulo

University of São Paulo (USP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics (FMVZ), 4Cats Veterinary Hospital, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Rodrigo Prazeres, University of São Paulo

University of São Paulo (USP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics (FMVZ), 4Cats Veterinary Hospital, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Vinicius Perez, University of São Paulo

University of São Paulo (USP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics (FMVZ), 4Cats Veterinary Hospital, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Pedro Villela Pedroso Horta, Vetmasters Veterinary Clinic

Vetmasters Veterinary Clinic, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

How to Cite

From hunting to the bowl: how nutritional evolution influences diabetes in cats. Revista de Educação Continuada em Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, [S. l.], v. 24, n. esp. 1, 2026. DOI: 10.36440/recmvz.v24.38853. Disponível em: https://www.revistamvez-crmvsp.com.br/index.php/recmvz/article/view/38853. Acesso em: 19 feb. 2026.